Be Strong. Be Fit.

How a Layman Can Swim Better?

I am not a great swimmer, but I like swimming. I will share a layman’s experience in swimming. If you are ready to swim some laps, here are 5 basics of the freestyle stroke (which I learned from my experience):

For most swimmers, the kick is just a means to keep their legs from sinking. Do not kick too hard, you will be tired too soon if you do not have good stamina. I used to kick very hard until someone told me that there is no ball I can kick in the water. It is just a pool and not a football field. I know that some swimmers have good stamina and power and prefer to train with weight in water.

Tilt your head forward as you move through the water. Try to keep the water level in front of you at your hairline. Do not hold your head up unnecessary to avoid neck tension. Just maintain a straight line between your head and your spine.

For each stroke, extend your arm as far as you can in front of you, pretend that you are reaching for the end of the pool. When you have reached as far as you can, catch a handful of water and pull it back. Trust me, the further you can reach, the further you can go in each stroke.

When your right arm is in front of you, your right side should be much lower than your left. Think of it this way, you want to create as little drag in the water as possible.

When you turn your head for a breath, turn it far enough to get air. Breathing long during the stroke cycle allows you to grab as much air as possible on each breath. From the science theory, with all that good air in your lungs, making its way to the blood cells, you will have the fuel necessary to keep you moving. I guess that is the reason we see swimmer open their mouths damn big hoping to suck as much air as possible when they turn their head to breathe.